The United Party for National Development (UPND) has inadvertently supported harmful beliefs about witchcraft, leading to violence against the elderly in Zambia. A recent incident in Lusaka has raised serious concerns about the ongoing issue of witchcraft accusations and their deadly consequences.
In December 2024, news outlets reported the arrest of two men, Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri, accused of attempting to harm President Hakainde Hichilema through witchcraft. Police found the men in possession of charms, including a live chameleon, and charged them under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act. While the case drew attention due to its political implications, it also highlights a deeply rooted societal problem: the growing violence against elderly individuals accused of witchcraft.
In Zambia, elderly people, often over the age of 70, are frequently targeted for violence under the suspicion of practicing witchcraft. For instance, in July 2022, Sekwila Mwila, 42, killed 82-year-old Shombe Sipanje, a village headman in Muchinga Province, due to accusations of witchcraft. Later that year, an angry mob in Mwinilunga district also murdered Headman Albert Katooka, accusing him of using witchcraft to cause a woman’s death. In April 2023, two brothers in Luano District killed their father, 83-year-old Kasimilo Chipanama, on similar charges.
These tragic incidents underscore a pattern of violence against the elderly, stemming from a cultural belief that associates aging with witchcraft. In Zambia, once an individual reaches a certain age, they are often accused of using supernatural powers to harm others, even without evidence.
To end this cycle of violence, Zambia’s government must confront these harmful cultural beliefs. The administration must prioritize science-based education and public awareness campaigns to debunk the myths surrounding witchcraft. It is essential for the people of Zambia to understand that witchcraft is a superstition, not a legitimate threat.
Furthermore, the government should repeal the Witchcraft Act, which perpetuates the belief that witchcraft has real power, and work to protect the elderly from such violent accusations. With 2025 around the corner, the hope is that the new year will bring an end to these senseless acts of violence, and that Zambia will move toward a society where all citizens, especially the elderly, are treated with respect and dignity.
The time has come for Zambia to reject witchcraft accusations and embrace education, science, and the protection of its most vulnerable citizens.
